The Home Front in Tredegar

during the Second World War

Part 9—Museum Activity Pack

Rationing

In the Second World War case, look carefully for a

green ration book. What would the coupons, which

are displayed, have allowed you to buy?

_________________________________________________

Next, locate a large tin of ‘National Dried Milk’.

Milk was rationed during the war. In order to make

up for the shortfall in fresh milk, dried milk powder

was imported into Britain from abroad.

Water was added to the milk powder before it was

used to make ‘milk’, which could be drunk or used

in cooking. Read the label on the tin carefully.

How many pints of milk could be made from all the

powder in the tin? _______________________________

(Hint: Look for the line on the can that says, ‘This

tin contains the equivalent of xxxx pints of milk)

Fighting Fires

Look for a stirrup pump in the museum—

identical to the one in the photo on the right.

Ask one of the people in the museum to show

you how it would have been operated.

Label the photo with the correct letter to show:

A) That part of the pump which was placed in-

side a bucket of water.

B) That part of the pump which was held firmly

in position by someone’s foot.

C) The plunger that was operated by hand

which fed water into the hosepipe.

D) The hosepipe out of which the water came

out to fight fires (this has been cut).

Bombs!

In the museum, look for part of an

exploded bomb that landed near

Tredegar during the war.

Make a quick sketch of it in the

box opposite.

It was part of an incendiary bomb

(pronounced in—send—e—ary),

which was designed to spread

fires.

Fortunately, this bomb landed far

away from any houses and

caused no damage or harm to

anyone or anything!

Gas attack!

Gas masks that

were designed for

babies and young

children were given

out in October 1939.

Why couldn’t they

use normal gas

masks?

Look for 2 examples

of gas masks in the

museum that were

intended for babies

and young children.

Make a quick sketch

of both on the right.

Blackout!

Look for 2 torches (shown on the right) in

the museum. How did their designs help to

reduce the amount of light that shone and

made sure that light never shone upwards?

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

The Defence Medal shown on the right was

awarded to people in one of the Civil Defence

teams such as Air Raid Protection wardens.

Look for the medal collection in the museum.

How many defence medals can you find?

When or in what year was the Defence

Medal awarded? __________________________

Home Guard units received training in the use of weapons and tactics

that would have been familiar to soldiers fighting in the regular British

army. In the museum, look for a small book with a red cover called ‘The

Home Guard Handbook’. What skills did it teach the Home Guard?

Skill Yes or No

Looking after evacuees

Street fighting

Dealing with parachute troops

Attacking enemy tanks

Providing first-aid

Setting up road blocks

Observing and reporting

Using ration books

Planning ambushes

Patrolling the blackout

Teachers’ Notes Use of this activity pack will be relevant to the following programmes of study: Wales KS2 / History Changes to people’s daily lives in the locality in the nineteenth century

Wales KS3 / History Changes that happened in Wales, Britain and the wider world between 1760 and 1914 and people’s reactions to them

It is intended that this activity pack will be used in conjunction with the comprehensive educational resource pack, which is available to download free of charge from the Access to Heritage Project website. Both resources have been produced, as the result of the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cymal, by the Access to Heritage Project, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Bedwellty House, Morgan Street, Tredegar, NP22 3XN [heritage@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk; www.access2heritagebg.co.uk; 01495 355662].

All of the activities included within this resource need to be undertaken by visiting Tredegar Museum, which welcomes school visits by prior arrangement. The museum is situated at Tredegar Library, The Circle, Tredegar, NP22 3PS. Visits are free of charge.

The museum is run entirely by volunteers who give up their time freely for the benefit of visitors and the community. Opening times are limited and details can be found on the Access to Heritage Project website. Tredegar Museum can also be contacted directly at archiveclub@hotmail.co.uk or by phone [01495 726506 or 01495 357869].